Whats to follow is completely anecdotal. I had a job at a decent/high salary in an expensive city. I moved and took a pay cut, to about an average salary in a much cheaper city. I feel significantly "richer" then before. I think the "more money is always better" is simply false. Its ultimately about how much money you make _after_ rent/mortgage. where rent should be equalized for equivalent housing. My $300k 5 bedroom house would be > 2mil in SF. A 2x or even 3x salary doesn't even begin to bridge the gap.